1 41:07:03:01. Inland waters. Except as provided in § 41:07:03:03, in inland waters no person
may harvest in one day or have in possession at any time more than the following:
(1) Five trout or salmon of any species combined, possession limit ten;
(2) Four walleye of any species combined, possession limit eight;
(3) Five largemouth bass or smallmouth bass or combination thereof, possession limit
ten;
(4) Ten catfish of any species combined, possession limit 20, provided that no more than
one flathead catfish may be over 30 inches in length.
(5) Six northern pike, possession limit 12;
(6) Fifteen, bluegill and sunfish or combination thereof, possession limit 30 each;
(7) Fifteen crappie of any species combined, possession limit 30;
(8) Fifteen yellow perch, possession limit 30;
(9) The daily limit for smelt is five gallons, no possession limit;
(10) Unlimited number of rough fish, lake herring, lake whitefish, white bass, rock bass,
and bullheads; and
(11) The season for all species of sturgeon is closed.; and
(12) One muskellunge or northern-muskellunge (tiger) cross 45-inches or longer,
possession limit two.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 4 SDR 31, effective November 27, 1977; 5 SDR 46, effective
January 1, 1979; 6 SDR 60, effective January 1, 1980; 7 SDR 48, effective November 25, 1980;
9 SDR 76, effective December 23, 1982; 10 SDR 48, effective November 22, 1983; 10 SDR 76,
10 SDR 102, effective July 1, 1984; 12 SDR 92, effective December 4, 1985; 13 SDR 68,
effective December 11, 1986; 14 SDR 81, effective December 10, 1987; 15 SDR 88, effective
2 December 18, 1988; 16 SDR 114, effective January 18, 1990; 17 SDR 78, effective December
10, 1990; 18 SDR 98, effective December 12, 1991; 19 SDR 82, effective December 7, 1992; 23
SDR 87, effective December 3, 1996; 25 SDR 85, effective December 21, 1998; 26 SDR 85,
effective December 26, 1999; 27 SDR 47, effective November 12, 2000; 28 SDR 44, effective
October 3, 2001; 28 SDR 84, effective December 20, 2001; 29 SDR 80, effective December 10,
2002; 29 SDR 107, effective February 3, 2003; 30 SDR 99, effective December 22, 2003; 31
SDR 89, effective December 27, 2004; 32 SDR 109, effective December 27, 2005; 33 SDR 107,
effective December 27, 2006; 35 SDR 184, effective February 2, 2009; 37 SDR 112, effective
December 8, 2010; 44 SDR 151, effective April 30, 2018; 45 SDR 89, effective December 31,
2018; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(15)(17).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(15)(17).
3 41:07:03:03. Daily, possession, and length limit restrictions on special management waters
-- Additional restrictions described. Daily limit, possession limit, length limit, and additional
restrictions on special management waters are as follows:
(1) Catfish may be taken without limit on the Grand, Moreau, Cheyenne, Belle Fourche,
Bad, White, and Little Missouri Rivers; and in the inland waters of the Missouri River and its
impoundments;
(2) In the waters of Lake Yankton in Yankton County and Lake Mitchell in Davison
County, the minimum length limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass is fifteen inches;
(3) In New Wall Dam in Pennington County, only those largemouth and smallmouth bass
less than fourteen inches in length or eighteen inches or greater in length may be taken, and of
the largemouth and smallmouth bass taken daily no more than one may be eighteen inches or
greater in length;
(4) In the Black Hills Fish Management Area:
(a) The areas described in subsections (b), (c), and (d) are restricted to artificial
lures only and the use or possession of worms, baitfish, salmon eggs, corn, marshmallows,
insects, moldable scented bait or naturally occurring or man-made food intended to be used as
bait, within one hundred feet of the water in those areas, is prohibited;
(b) Rapid Creek, including the Pactola Stilling Basin below Pactola Dam to the
foot bridge at Placerville Camp and Upper and Lower Yates Ponds at Cheyenne Crossing, are
restricted to catch and release;
(c) Rapid Creek in Rapid City from Jackson Boulevard upstream to Park Drive is
restricted to catch and release;
4 (d) Spearfish Creek from Homestake Hydro Dam No. 2 to Maurice Dam is
restricted to catch and release for rainbow trout. Other trout species may be retained within
established limits; and
(e) Only one trout fourteen inches or greater in length, regardless of species, may
be taken daily from streams within the Black Hills Fish Management Area. However, in the
Black Hills Fish Management Area the minimum length limit for lake trout or brook trout-lake
trout (splake) cross is twenty-four inches or greater and the daily limit is one;
(5) All waters statewide are restricted to catch and release only for muskellunge and
northern muskellunge (tiger) cross;
(6) The season on paddlefish is closed, except as provided in § 41:07:05:02;
(76) In inland waters only one walleye twenty inches or greater in length may be taken
daily, except as provided in subdivisions (109) and (13) of this section;
(87) In Lakes Francis Case and Sharpe, the minimum length limit for walleye is fifteen
inches, from September first through June thirtieth;
(98) In Angostura Reservoir, Shadehill Reservoir, and from the Ft. Randall Dam
downstream to the South Dakota-Nebraska state line on the Missouri River, the minimum length
limit for walleye is fifteen inches;
(109) In Twin Lakes in Minnehaha County and Horseshoe Lake in Day County, the daily
limit for walleye of any species is one, twenty-eight inches or greater in length;
(1110) In Lynn and Middle Lynn Lakes in Day County, Opitz Lake in Day and Marshall
Counties, Newell Lake and Belle Fourche Reservoir, including the terminal drop canal, in Butte
County, and Curlew Lake in Meade County, the daily limit for walleye of any species combined
is two and the minimum length limit is fifteen inches;
5 (1211) From the Ft. Randall Dam downstream to the South Dakota-Nebraska state line on
the Missouri River, the daily limit for white bass is fifteen and the possession limit is thirty; and.
(13) In Reetz Lake in Day County, the daily limit is: one walleye twenty-eight inches or
greater in length; one yellow perch fourteen inches or greater in length; one black crappie fifteen
inches or greater in length; and one bluegill ten inches or greater in length, from May first
through September thirtieth.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 4 SDR 31, effective November 27, 1977; 5 SDR 46, effective
January 1, 1979; 6 SDR 60, effective January 1, 1980; 7 SDR 48, effective November 25, 1980;
9 SDR 76, effective December 23, 1982; 10 SDR 48, effective November 22, 1983; 10 SDR 76,
10 SDR 102, effective July 1, 1984; 12 SDR 92, effective December 4, 1985; 13 SDR 68,
effective December 11, 1986; 14 SDR 81, effective December 10, 1987; 15 SDR 88, effective
December 18, 1988; 16 SDR 114, effective January 18, 1990; 17 SDR 78, effective December
10, 1990; 18 SDR 98, effective December 12, 1991; 19 SDR 82, effective December 7, 1992; 23
SDR 87, effective December 3, 1996; 25 SDR 85, effective December 21, 1998; 26 SDR 85,
effective December 26, 1999; 27 SDR 47, effective November 12, 2000; 28 SDR 44, effective
October 3, 2001; 28 SDR 84, effective December 20, 2001; 29 SDR 80, effective December 10,
2002; 29 SDR 107, effective February 3, 2003; 30 SDR 99, effective December 22, 2003; 31
SDR 89, effective December 27, 2004; 32 SDR 109, effective December 27, 2005; 33 SDR 107,
effective December 27, 2006; 35 SDR 184, effective February 2, 2009; 37 SDR 112, effective
December 8, 2010; 44 SDR 151, effective April 30, 2018; 45 SDR 89, effective December 31,
2018; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(15)(17).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(15)(17).
6 41:07:05:03. Paddlefish snagging, processing, and transportation restrictions. Any
paddlefish taken below Gavin's Point Dam, by snagging, which measures between 35 inches and
45 inches when measured with a flexible tape along and over the center line contour of the fish,
lying flat, from an entire eye to the natural unaltered fork of the tail must be immediately
released to the water from which it was caught. A person may not attempt to snag rough fish or
paddlefish after reaching the limit on paddlefish. A gaff hook or other penetrating device may not
be used as an aid while landing snagged paddlefish.
For paddlefish taken below Gavin's Point Dam by snagging, only the snout in front of the
eyes, gills, and entrails of a paddlefish may be removed for transportation. The head, skin, and
tail must remain attached. Final processing may only be completed once the angler has reached
their domicile or immediately prior to consumption.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 5 SDR 46, effective January 1, 1979; 10 SDR 76, 10 SDR 102,
effective July 1, 1984; 18 SDR 98, effective December 12, 1991; 18 SDR 144, effective March
15, 1992; 23 SDR 87, effective December 3, 1996; 29 SDR 147, effective May 6, 2003; 36 SDR
112, effective January 11, 2010; 38 SDR 178, effective April 30, 2012; 39 SDR 100, effective
December 3, 2012; 41 SDR 107, effective January 5, 2015; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29,
2020.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(2)(15).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-1-3, 41-2-18(2)(15), 41-3-1, 41-12-5, 41-12-12.
7 41:09:04:16. Records required. All records required in §§ 41:09:04:16.01 through
41:09:04:16.06, must be recorded and maintained on forms supplied by the department, or
electronically in a format approved by the department. Each record must be kept current and
available for inspection by personnel of the department, during normal business hours, at the
physical location of the business where the record is kept, as indicated on the license application,
for a period of three years after the end of the license year. Each record for a resident bait dealer
must be kept within the state. Each wholesale and export bait dealer shall submit a summary of
the dealer's yearly records to the department by January 31 of the following calendar year. The
department may refuse to issue a new license if these records are not submitted.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 10 SDR 76, 10 SDR 102, effective July 1, 1984; 11 SDR 156,
effective May 27, 1985; 15 SDR 103, effective January 19, 1989; 25 SDR 85, effective
December 21, 1998; 35 SDR 253, effective May 13, 2009; 37 SDR 112, effective December 8,
2010; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 48 SDR 60, effective December 8, 2021.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(21).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(21), 41-6-44, 41-6-44.1, 41-6-45, 41-6-45.1.
8 41:09:08:03.03. Pathogens of regulatory concern. Fish pathogens of regulatory concern are as
follows:
(1) For all fish species:
(a) Viral hemmorrhagic septicemia virus – V.H.S; and.
(b) Yersinia ruckeri - enteric redmouth disease.
In addition, screening for the following pathogens is required for the following fish
families:
(2) Salmonidae:
(a) Oncorhynchus masou virus - O.M.V.;
(b) Salmonid rickettsial septicemia virus – S.R.S.;
(c) Infectious salmon anemia virus – I.S.A.;
(d) Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus – I.P.N.;
(e) Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus – I.H.N.;
(f) Epizootic epitheliotropic disease virus – E.E.D.;
(g) Spring viremia of carp virus – S.V.C.;
(h) Renibacterium salmoninarum - bacterial kidney disease;
(i) Aeromonas salmonicida – furunculosis;
(j) Piscirickettsia salmonis – piscirickettsiosis Yersinia ruckeri – enteric redmouth
disease;
(k) Ceratomyxa shasta – ceratomyxosis;
(l) Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae - proliferative kidney disease; and
(ml) Myxosoma cerebralis - whirling disease;
(3) Ictaluridae:
(a) Channel catfish virus – C.C.V.;
(b) Edwardsiella ictaluri - catfish enteric septicemia;
(c) Edwardsiella tarda - emphysematous putrefactive disease; and
(d) Edwardsiella piscicida;
(4) Percidae:
9 (a) Heterosporis sp.;
(5) Cyprinidae:
(a) Spring viremia of carp virus – S.V.C.; and
(b) Edwardsiella piscicida;
(6) Esocidae:
(a) Spring viremia of carp virus -S.V.C.; and
(b) Northern pike fry rhabdovirus -P.F.R.D.;
(7) Centrarchidae:
(a) Spring viremia of carp virus – S.V.C.;
(b) Largemouth bass virus – L.M.B.V.; and
(c) Edwardsiella piscicida;
(83) Acipenseridae:
(a) White sturgeon iridovirus – W.S.I.; and
(b) Shovelnose sturgeon iridorivus – S.S.I.; and
(94) Polyodontidae:
(a) Shovelnose sturgeon iridorivus – S.S.I.
Source: 29 SDR 80, effective December 10, 2002; 36 SDR 112, effective January 11, 2010; 46
SDR 74, effective December 2, 2019.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1), 41-13-3.1.
10 41:09:15:09. Restricted times of fishing tournaments. Fishing tournaments are not permitted
from 8:00 a.m. on Friday to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday on the weekend in May preceding Memorial
Day weekend, if it is designated as free fishing and visitor appreciation weekend, or from 8:00
am on Friday to 8:00 pm on Monday of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, and the
weekend associated with on Memorial Day, July Fourth, if the Fourth falls on a Friday, Saturday,
Sunday or Monday Labor Day, and on associated weekend days when those holidays fall on
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. Junior fishing clinics or achievement contests are
permitted at that time with approval of the local park manager.
Source: 16 SDR 220, effective June 21, 1990; 24 SDR 72, effective November 30, 1997; 47
SDR 27, effective September 15, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 32-3A-1(5).
Law Implemented: SDCL 32-3A-1(5).
11 41:10:02:01 List of endangered birds. Birds classified as endangered in the state are as follows
(1) Whooping crane, Grus americana;.
(2) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis;
(3) Least Tern, Sternula antillarum.
Source: 4 SDR 57, effective March 16, 1978; 10 SDR 76, 10 SDR 102, effective July 1, 1984;
30 SDR 21, effective August 25, 2003; 34 SDR 242, effective April 7, 2008; 44 SDR 93,
effective December 4, 2017; 49 SDR 46, effective November 21, 2022.
General Authority: SDCL 34A-8-3, 41-2-18(1)(3).
Law Implemented: SDCL 34A-8-3, 41-2-18(1)(3).
12 41:10:04:01. List of aquatic invasive species. Species classified as aquatic invasive species in
the state are as follows;
(1) Fish:
(a) Bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis;
(b) Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus;
(c) Common carp, Cyprinus carpio;
(d) Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella;
(e) Prussian carp, Carassisus gibelio;
(f) Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus;
(g) Rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus;
(h) Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix;
(i) Snakehead (Channa Spp.);
(j) Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis; and
(k) White perch, Morone americana;
(2) Plants:
(a) Brittle naiad, Najas minor;
(b) Common reed, Phragmites australis;
(c) Curly pondweed, Potamogeton crispus;
(d) Didymo, Didymosphenia geminate;
(e) Eurasian water-milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum;
(f) Flowering rush, Butomus umbellatus;
(g) Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria; and
(h) Starry stonewort, Nitellopsis obtuse; and
(3) Invertebrates:
(a) Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea;
(b) New Zealand mudsnail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum;
(c) Quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis;
13 (d) Red rimmed melania, Melanoides tuberculata;
(e) Red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii;
(f) Rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus;
(g) Spiny waterflea, Bythotrephes longimanus; and
(h) Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha.; and
(i) Golden mussel, Limnoperna fortune.
Source: 38 SDR 116, effective January 10, 2012; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 41
SDR 173, effective May 11, 2015; 43 SDR 89, effective December 29, 2016; 45 SDR 89,
effective December 31, 2018; 46 SDR 74, effective December 2, 2019; 52 SDR 42, effective
October 27, 2025.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2).
14 41:10:04:02.01. Aquatic species conveyance launching and removal exceptions. The
following are exempt from SDCL 41-13A-3 and 41-13A-4:
(1) An owner and agent of the owner of a conveyance with dressinid mussels attached that is
subsequently launched directly into the infested water from which it was removed, if the
conveyance was stored on the riparian property of the owner or at a marina business property on
the infested water, prior to launch; and
(2) An owner and agent of the owner of a conveyance with a shooting or observational blind
constructed of aquatic macrophytes, except Common Reed (Phragmites spp.), cut above the
water line, attached to or in the conveyance.
Source: 38 SDR 116, effective January 10, 2012; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 41
SDR 173, effective May 11, 2015; 43 SDR 89, effective December 29, 2016; 45 SDR 89,
effective December 31, 2018; 46 SDR 74, effective December 2, 2019; 52 SDR 42, effective
October 27, 2025.
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2).